What is Spread in Forex
The spread is calculated as: Spread = Ask Price – Bid Price. For example, if USD/EUR has a bid of 0.8500 and an ask of 0.8505, the spread is 5 pips. For Togo traders trading a standard lot (100,000 units) of USD/EUR, each pip is worth $10, so a 5-pip spread costs $50 per trade. This cost is immediate, meaning you start at a loss of the spread. Brokers offer two types: fixed spreads (constant regardless of market conditions) and variable spreads (fluctuate with volatility). In Togo's retail context, variable spreads are common during news events, widening to 10-20 pips. To minimize impact, Togo traders should trade during high liquidity hours (e.g., London-New York overlap) and use limit orders to avoid slippage. The spread is also influenced by broker type—ECN brokers offer tight spreads but charge a commission, while market makers offer wider spreads but no commission. For example, a Togo trader using Skrill to deposit $1,000 might prefer an ECN broker with 0.5-pip spreads to save on costs. Understanding spread helps you choose the right broker and strategy for your USD trades.